Cover for waste container

ABSTRACT

Plate-like cover hingedly connected at one side to waste container with other side of cover carrying outwardly and upwardly projecting arcuate member positioned for lateral force applied thereto to exert lifting force to said opposite side of cover. To reduce required lifting force, counterweight carried by said one side of cover.

United States Patent Morgan 1 July 11,1972

[541 COVER FOR WASTE CONTAINER [72] lnventor: Johnson T. Morgan, 3635 Blue Lake Drive, Birmingham, Ala. 35216 [22] Filed: July 16, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 55,389

[52] U.S. Cl. ..220/36, 220/31 R, 220/94 R [51] Int. Cl. ..A65d 51/04, B65d 25/28 [58] Field ofSearch ..220/1 T, 18, 31 R, 36, 63 R,

220/65, 94 R; 206/DIG. l2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,127,052 3/1964 2,451,194 10/1948 Braun 966,145 8/1910 Wilder ..220/31 R 2,138,537 11/1938 Bernat ..220/36 3,207,355 9/1965 Saphier ..220/ l 8 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 338,396 6/1959 Switzerland", ..220/63 R 919,012 2/1963 Great Britain ..220/31 R Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney-Jennings, Carter and Thompson 6Clains,4DrawingFigures PATENTEDJUL 11 I972 3.675.813

INVENTORV J /mson T Marga)? .IMMW

Attorneys COVER FOR WASTE CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a cover or lid for a waste container, such as a litter or garbage container and more particularly to a cover which is pivotally connected at one side to the container and is provided with improved lifting means at the opposite side thereof whereby lateral force applied to the lifting means exerts a lifting force to that side of the cover.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, difficulties have been encountered in opening and closing the covers for litter and garbage containers due to the fact that the user often has both hands full and cannot lift the cover without freeing one hand. Also, after litter, garbage or the like is placed in a conventional type litter or garbage can, the lid is often difficult to replace due to the fact that it often becomes bent, distorted or lost whereby the container remains open for a long period of time thus attracting insects and collecting BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with my present invention, I provide a plate-' like cover or lid for a waste container with the cover being hingedly connected at one side to the container with the other side of the cover carrying an upwardly and outwardly projecting arcuate member which is positioned for lateral force applied thereto to exert a lifting force to the adjacent side of the cover. To further reduce the lifting force required to actuate the cover, counterweights are provided at the side of the cover member which is hinged to the container.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing my improved cover attached to a waste container, parts being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmental, top plan view showing a modified form of cover member; and,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention I show a waste container having an opening 10a at the upper end thereof. Extending tranversely across the upper end of the container 10 is a plate-like lid or cover 11 which is of a width to span and seal the entire upper end of the container 10. Projecting laterally from one side of the cover 11 is a hinge bracket 12 having an opening 13 therethrough for receiving a pivot pin 14 having depending legs 16 at each side thereof. The lower end of each leg 16 is secured rigidly to a connector bracket 17 having a resilient cup-like suction member 18 at the inner side thereof, as shown in FIG. 1. A suitable adhesive 19 is provided between the suction cups l8 and the adjacent side of the container 10 to provide a rigid connection therebetween.

The side of the plate-like cover 11 opposite the side thereof hingedly connected to the container 10 carries an outwardly and upwardly projecting arcuate flange member 21 having an arcuate outer surface 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the sides of the arcuate member 2] merge with the plate-like cover 11 along lines which are generally tangent to the plate-like cover.

In the event the plate-like cover 1 l and the arcuate member 21 are formed of a heavy material, I provide rearwardly projecting counterweights 23 which are secured rigidly to the bracket 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The upwardly and outwardly projecting arcuate flange member 21 extends in position for a lateral force applied thereto in a generally horizontal plane to exert an upward lifiing force to the adjacent side of the plate-like cover 1 1. Since the arcuate surface 22 extends around a substantial area of the plate-like cover 11, the cover 11 may be raised by applying a lateral force against any portion of the upwardly and out-' wardly extending arcuate flange member 21 whereupon the cover 11 would be pivoted upwardly about the hinge pin 14.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved cover or lid for a waste container will be readily understood. To position litter or garbage within the container 10, the user merely applies a lateral force against the upwardly and outwardly extending arcuate flange member 21 which in turn exerts an upward lilting force to the adjacent side of the cover 11 whereby the cover pivots to open position about the pivot pin 14. With the container 10 thus opened, the litter or garbage is inserted with no difficulty. After the litter or garbage has thus been deposited in the container 10, the platelike cover 11 returns to the closed position shown in FIG. 2 to thus seal the upper end of the container. That is, the plate-like cover 11 and the upwardly and outwardly extending arcuate flange member 21 are of a weight greater than the weight of the counterweight 23 whereby the cover 1 1 always returns automatically to closed position. The counterweights 23 merely reduce the force required to lift the cover. While I have shown two counterweights 23, it will be apparent that one or more counterweights may be employed.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, I show a modified form of my invention in which the upwardly and outwardly projecting arcuate member is indicated at 21a. Instead of being in the form of an arcuate flange, the member 21a comprises arcuate bar-like members 24 and 26 which are spaced from each other with the ends of the bar members 24 and 26 being secured rigidly to the plate-like cover 11 by suitable means, such as by welding. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 outwardly projecting brace members 27 are provided between the cover 11 and the bar member 26 and between the bar member 24 and the bar member 26 to add rigidity to the structure.

The operation of the cover shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is identical to the operation of the cover shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. That is, to pivot the cover 11 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to the open position, the user merely applies a lateral force against either of the arcuate bar-like members 24 or 26, as the case may be, whereupon a vertical force is exerted to thus lift the adjacent side of the cover 1 1.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved cover for a waste container. By providing a cover which completely seals the upper end of the container and automatically returns to seal position upon release of the cover, the container remains in a sealed condition at all times, thus eliminating odors and at the same time preventing the collection of rainwater in the container. Also, since the cover remains in a closed position, the container does not attract insects thus providing for sanitary conditions at all times. Furthermore, by providing an arcuate member for lifting the cover, there is no danger of injury to the user and at the same time a shorter reach is required to deposit garbage or waste into the container 10. Furthermore, by providing the arcuate, upwardly and outwardly extending member, the user can open the container by merely engaging the back of his hand with the arcuate member at any point along the arcuate member thus assuring easy opening of the cover 11 even though the user might not bedirectly in front of the garbage can.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

WhatI claim is:

l. A cover for a waste container comprising:

a. a plate-like member of a size to span the top of a waste container,

b. hinge means pivotally connecting one side of said platelike member to the waste container, and

c. an arcuate member carried by the opposite side of said plate-like member from said one side having an arcuate outer surface and extending around a portion of the periphery of said plate-like member with the sides of said arcuate member merging with the periphery of said plate- 5 like member along lines which are generally tangent to said plate-like member and projecting outwardly and upwardly beyond the periphery of said plate-like member and the top of said waste container in position for a lateral force applied to said arcuate member to exert an upward l0 lifting force to said opposite side of the plate-like member.

2. A cover as defined in claim 1 in which said arcuate 3. A cover as defined in claim 1 in which said arcuate member comprises at least one arcuate bar-like member.

4. A cover as defined in claim 1 in which said arcuate member comprises a plurality of spaced apart arcuate bar-like members.

5. A cover as defined in claim 1 in which said hinge means is secured to said waste container by suction members with an adhesive between said suction members and said waste container.

6. A cover as defined in claim 1 in which at least one counterweight is carried by said one side of said plate-like member to reduce the amount of force required to lift said opposite side of said plate-like member. 

1. A cover for a waste container comprising: a. a plate-like member of a size to span the top of a waste container, b. hinge means pivotally connecting one side of said plate-like member to the waste container, and c. an arcuate member carried by the opposite side of said platelike member from said one side having an arcuate outer surface and extending around a portion of the periphery of said platelike member with the sides of said arcuate member merging with the periphery of said plate-like member along lines which are generally tangent to said plate-like member and projecting outwardly and upwardly beyond the periphery of said plate-like member and the top of said waste container in position for a lateral force applied to said arcuate member to exert an upward lifting force to said opposite side of the plate-like member.
 2. A cover as defined in claim 1 in which said arcuate member comprises an upwardly and outwardly extending flange member having an outer arcuate surface.
 3. A cover as defined in claim 1 in which said arcuate member comprises at least one arcuate bar-like member.
 4. A cover as defined in claim 1 in which said arcuate member comprises a plurality of spaced apart arcuate bar-like members.
 5. A cover as defined in claim 1 in which said hinge means is secured to said waste container by suction members with an adhesive between said suction members and said waste container.
 6. A cover as defined in claim 1 in which at least one counterweight is carried by said one side of said plate-like member to reduce the amount of force required to lift said opposite side of said plate-like member. 